FEATURED SERVANT OFFICERS
Servant Officer Gallery (7)
DARRYL MORGAN
CAPITOL HEIGHTS PD, MD
"The acting police chief of Capitol Heights PD in Maryland, Chief Darryl Morgan, was conducting a traffic stop one morning and instead of handing out tickets, he was handing out coffee. Handing out coffee instead of tickets isn't just a generous gesture; it's a meaningful way to build bridges. It sends a clear message: law enforcement isn't just about enforcing the rules, it's about serving people. By taking a moment to engage with his community in such a positive way, the chief is showing that he sees drivers not just as citizens, but as neighbors. This kind of outreach makes a lasting impact, proving that officers are approachable, caring, and invested in the well-being of those they serve."
OFFICER BERTI
PITTSBURG PD, CA
"During a robbery, 21-year-old, Charles, an autistic resident of Pittsburg, suffered facial injuries after being assaulted and had his cellphone taken from him, as well. When police arrived on the scene, Charles was able to provide a detailed description of the suspect, which led to their arrest, but his cellphone was unfortunately not found. Officer Berti felt compelled to help Charles, so he rounded up a few other officers within the department and they all pitched in to buy Charles another cellphone."
OFFICER HILTZ & OFFICER REILLY
ALEXANDRIA PD, VA
"A 9-1-1 call came in a few minutes after midnight that a newborn baby was lifeless right after the woman gave birth. Officer Hiltz and Officer Reilly rushed to the apartment to locate the baby. They found a newborn baby with no heartbeat, so their first responders training immediately kicked in. Officer Hiltz began to perform CPR and Officer Reilly was focused on keeping the family calm. After two rounds of CPR, they found a pulse and the baby began to cry. Officer Hiltz said, "It's this kind of call, getting to help baby Luis and his family, that makes this job so rewarding and worth it." A week later, the officers were able to visit the baby and family. Both mom and baby were in good health. Officers Hiltz and Reilly were credited by the EMS Lieutenant with saving the baby's life."
OFFICER MIRON & OFFICER GROSS
MACOMB COUNTY SO, MI
"Officer Miron and Officer Gross were dispatched after receiving multiple calls of an erratic driver. Once they saw the vehicle swerving and hitting the curb but driving very slowly, Officer Miron knew something was off. Miron said, "I had [Officer Gross] pull up next to the vehicle so that we could kind of get a visual on what was going on, and I could tell it was an elderly male in the vehicle driving. It seemed as if he was having some sort of medical issue." Officer Miron and Officer Gross had to act quickly to try and stop the driver from hurting others and himself. "It was like spur of the moment, just feeling everything out, and then we finally just decided on it, like, 'Hey, this is what we are going to do,'" said Gross. Officer Gross pulled up next to the vehicle and they tried to break the glass window of the driver's side but they were unsuccessful. The noise brought the driver back to consciousness and he was able to roll the window down. At that point, Officer Miron yelled out that she was going to jump in the vehicle to help him put it in park. After she made the crucial jump and made it inside the car, Officer Miron put the vehicle in park and they immediately called medical backup. The driver was taken to a local hospital and has since recovered. The video of this incident apparently went viral. Officer Miron stated, "We're a little bit overwhelmed, but I mean to us, I don't feel like it was crazy. But after the fact, looking back, I think we looked at each like, 'Oh, my God, I can't believe we just did that.'""
OFFICER FERLAUTO & OFFICER TIERNEY
NEWBURYPORT PD, MA
Officer Ferlauto recognized the need for an Autism Acceptance Program. He sought out training and developed a program where people can register their loved ones on the police department's website so officers will be able to have vital information available to them when they are responding to certain addresses; it is also good for officers to know what addresses to keep watch at if someone is prone to wandering so they can look out for them and their safety. Officer Tierney help Officer Ferlauto design a special edition "Autism Acceptance" patch that ended up raising $600 that they donated to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. The submitter of these two officers said, "[Their] efforts have helped to bridge the gap and provide important services to vulnerable members of our community and their families.""
EDWARD JOHNSON
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE
"A 4-year-old boy slipped and fell into the Merrimack River and was swept away by the current. Multiple officers from different agencies responded to the incident, but none of them were able to locate the boy. Lieutenant Edward Johnson spent the next 13 days on his own time and with his own boat patrolling the Merrimack River searching for the missing boy. When he finally found the missing boy's body, he immediately coordinated recovery efforts. In the words of the one who submitted Lieutenant Johnson, "[His] unwavering service to his community brought closure to a family who was struggling. Lieutenant Johnson further supported the family by attending the wake of the 4-year-old. Lieutenant Johnson went far above and beyond the call of duty by spending his own personal time to search for the boy and his actions are a prime example of what being a Servant Officer looks like.""
ANDREW LATOSEK
MEDWAY PD, MA
"Officer Latosek responded to a medical emergency call where a mother with failing health unfortunately passed away; she had been living with her eldest son who had left college to care for his mother while she was sick. Officer Latosek realized that he was going to need substantial help, so he helped him pay for his outstanding traffic tickets and helped him reinstate his driver's license; Officer Latosek personally drove him to the RMV. Additionally, Officer Latosek was able to get some gift cards to local grocery stores to ensure that he had plenty of access to food. He is also currently helping him find employment as well as a vehicle that he can use for transportation to and from his new workplace. The submitter said, "When confronted with someone who needed guidance following the loss of a loved one, Officer Latosek's response exemplified going above and beyond the call of duty.""
